Our dean has experimented with it, and I am not impressed with hers or any other merit scheme. If you peg it to student ratings you create a "race to the bottom" in quality. And as Mike says, $1000 won't entice a person to publish more (or give someone competence to publish if they lack it). It only makes people more compulsive about listing every dinky thing they do on their c.v.
I have repeatedly argued that we already have a wonderful merit system if we only use it properly: "promotion and tenure." Set high standards for teaching dedication & publication, and stick to them. When people pass these hurdles, reward them as much as possible. At some schools, getting promoted and tenured has evolved into a system whereby you get tenured if you don't make waves. Then we scramble for other ways to reward and punish. I say vote with your feet, don't volunteer for any of these committees, stay focused on teaching and research, and, one day the merit pay issue will go away (defend the promotion and tenure system, however, with a vengeance). ============================================ John W. Kulig Professor of Psychology Plymouth State College Plymouth NH 03264 ============================================ Za dvumia zaitsami pogonish'sia - ni odnogo ne poimaesh' [If you chase after two rabbits, you won't catch even one]Russian proverb. > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Scoles [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 3:03 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: RE: merit pay > > A few years ago, every department on our campus was to develop a merit > pay plan. If I remember ours correctly, we came up with a weighting > of activities to be considered (something like 65% teaching, 25% > scholarship, and 10% service). > > I doubt that this formula drives anyone's career. For a while, merit > bonuses (i.e., not an raise in base salary) became common. I doubt > that the promise of an additional $500 or $1000 at the end of the year > made anyone a better teacher or a more dedicated researcher. You > either like your job and do it or kick back and hope to avoid problems > in post-tenure review. > > ************************************************* > Michael T. Scoles, Ph.D. > Director, Arkansas Charter School Resource Center > Associate Professor of Psychology & Counseling > University of Central Arkansas > Conway, AR 72035 > voice: (501) 450-5418 > fax: (501) 450-5424 > ************************************************* > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: McKinley, Marcia [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 1:55 PM > > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > > Subject: RE: merit pay > > > > > > TIPsters, > > I am a part of a campus committee that is considering, at the > > President's request, how to institute merit pay increases. > > Have any of > > you had experiences with merit pay plans? I am > > particularly interested > > in aspects of plans that you feel have worked at your schools. > > > > Thanks, in advance, for any help, > > Marcia > > > > Marcia J. McKinley, JD, PhD > > Assistant Professor of Psychology > > Mount St. Mary's College > > Emmitsburg, MD 17325 > > 301-447-5394 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
